Appeal No. 2003-1841 Page 7
Application No. 09/272,956
Col. 5, ll. 37-44. In the memory call state of Figure 4B, in contrast, "the input key 1A is
[labeled] as a 'call' key, the input key 1B is [labeled] as an upward cursor key, the input
key 1C is [labeled] as a 'return' key, and the input key 1D is [labeled] as a downward
cursor key. . . ." Id. at ll. 60-64.
In summary, each of Suzuki's portable communication devices (1100-a, 1100-b)
includes a state machine that controls the functions assigned to the device's SLKs. We
are unpersuaded that downloading the functions from an external switch would have
been "more convenient or eas[ier]," (Examiner's Answer at 4), than having the device
use its internal state machine. Furthermore, the portable communication device
consumes power from its battery when the device is operating. Because the portable
communications device would need to be operating to download the functions from the
external switch, we are unpersuaded that such downloading would have "extend[ed]
the durable time of the battery in the portable [device]. . . ." (Id.)
Downloading the functions from an external switch rather than having the device
use its internal state machine, moreover, would introduce the disadvantages mentioned
in the BACKGROUND section of this opinion. To wit, the switch would expend a great
part of its processing capacity simply updating the labels of the SLKs, which would
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